Dolphins release Joey Porter

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

You do remember that the Bills have TO, right?

I could have sworn I saw a news story saying they weren't going to re-sign him.  (He only had a one year deal)

[Philly Fin Fan]

Wait a second. I just read that it was an "invalid termination" and Porter "reverts back" to the Fins. Huh?

Ok, so here's the reasoning. If they release him prior to March 5th, his whole signing bonus would go towards the 2009 cap, which would put the Fins over the cap. So they can't release him. So he's back on the roster until March 5th!

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Ok, so here's the reasoning. If they release him prior to March 5th, his whole signing bonus would go towards the 2009 cap, which would put the Fins over the cap. So they can't release him. So he's back on the roster until March 5th!

In a way this is good.  They can shop him around until then.  Although I doubt there will be many takers seeing as everyone now knows they already tried to release him.

[Philly Fin Fan]

In a way this is good.  They can shop him around until then.  Although I doubt there will be many takers seeing as everyone now knows they already tried to release him.

True- but remember, once he's released, his contract is null and void, and he's a free agent to go wherever he wants. So if a team really wants him, maybe they will trade for him, if they feel there will be a lot of demand for him as a free agent (highly doubt it, but just saying).

[Doc-phin]

I didn't realize our cap situation was that bad.   

[Philly Fin Fan]

I didn't realize our cap situation was that bad.   

I don't think its bad. I think its just that Porters contract being pro-rated all to 2009 would push it over the limit.
I think FYO is usually good at finding cap numbers.

[Defense54]

Was he really that bad?  He had nine sacks this year and 17 or so last year. 

Exactly. I'm not crying that he's gone, but I'm glad we signed him and dug his attitude. We need more guys with personality on this Team. Nice guys finish........well you know the saying. 

[fyo]

I didn't realize our cap situation was that bad.  

I don't have the time right now to scrounge up cap numbers, but what teams will often do during the season is restructure contracts in such a way as to take as many cap hits as they can for that year. Any cap space you have left once the season ends is effectively wasted, so it makes sense to try and push that space forward.

Porter had played the first 3 years of his 5-year contract, so terminating him isn't causing a HUGE cap hit, but with a signing bonus of $12 million it still amounts of $4.8 million... meaning we are obviously pretty darn close to the cap...

[YoFuggedaboutit]

True- but remember, once he's released, his contract is null and void, and he's a free agent to go wherever he wants. So if a team really wants him, maybe they will trade for him, if they feel there will be a lot of demand for him as a free agent (highly doubt it, but just saying).

You're theory is correct, but so is your doubt.  I agree that there will not be much interest for a 32 year old pass rushing LB whose skills are eroding and who is known for being a locker room cancer.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't have the time right now to scrounge up cap numbers, but what teams will often do during the season is restructure contracts in such a way as to take as many cap hits as they can for that year. Any cap space you have left once the season ends is effectively wasted, so it makes sense to try and push that space forward.

Porter had played the first 3 years of his 5-year contract, so terminating him isn't causing a HUGE cap hit, but with a signing bonus of $12 million it still amounts of $4.8 million... meaning we are obviously pretty darn close to the cap...

It is pretty much irrelevent.  No cap in 2010. 

[CF DolFan]

Does it bother anyone that the powers that be screwed this up? I mean ... shouldn't they have known when to release someone?

[fyo]

It is pretty much irrelevent.  No cap in 2010. 

And, then again, not.

While odds are overwhelming that there won't be a cap in 2010, there are still a bunch of rules governing how contracts must be structured. You can't just pay a player everything in 2010 and never have to worry about a cap hit for that contract again. Yes, I'm assuming we'll actually wind up with a cap again at some point, most likely 2011.

Anyway, considering that it doesn't "hurt" the team to do this (essentially an accounting maneuver), I'm glad Dolphins management (apparently) did it.

Regarding CF's comment... Yes, it does bother me. Most teams have a slew of people who do nothing but cap management. It really isn't trivial and I'd prefer if management showed some competence in this regard.

[StL FinFan]

Does it bother anyone that the powers that be screwed this up? I mean ... shouldn't they have known when to release someone?

I was going to say the same thing.

[Philly Fin Fan]

Does it bother anyone that the powers that be screwed this up? I mean ... shouldn't they have known when to release someone?

Worse thing about this, is that the cap and salaries, etc is the responsibility the new VP they just hired a few weeks ago!

[dolphins4life]

Why didn't anyone explain to me why we are so eager to get rid of a guy who had nine sacks last year and 17 or so the previous year?